Sand trap



Oct. 2l, 1941. G. s; TURNER 2,259,593

SAND TRAP Filed May 20, 1940- Patented Oct. 21, 1941 .UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE:

y v Y SAND TRAP Guilford s. Turner, Berwyn, I 11.assignrgto Morris B. BrewstervCo. Inc.,V

corporation of Illinois A Application May zo, 1940, serien No. 336,157

a claims. (.o1.12a1 11)'- y f The invention relates generally to track sanding apparatus usedon locomotives.

, In sandtraps for locomotives, it is desirable provide an air-,nozzle whichmay be adjusted to vary *the` quantity of sand discharged from the trap. -In the constructions heretofore used, the connection .for supplying air to the sand-trap was axiallyA aligned with the nozzle and required disconnection from thesand-trap to provide access" to' the'nozzle for adjustment of the nozzle. When the coupling for Athe air delivery pipe to the trap was disconnected it frequently occurred that the coupling wouldnot be securely tightened and the supply of air into the trap would be inadequate or would not be at the predetermined rate.

One object of the` invention is to provide an improved sand-trap in which the air delivery nozzle is adjustable andr can be adjusted to vary the rate of delivery of air. into the trap Without requiring vuncoupling .of the air-supply pipe from the trap. f V

Another object of the invention is toprovide a construction'l in which the restricted port, throughv which the air is delivered to the nozzle, is disposed in a plug which can be removed from the trap without uncoupling the air supply pipe from the trap.

Another object of the invention is to provid an improved air delivery nozzle which isprovided with improved means for restricting the air discharged nto the trap to expel the sand.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consists inthe several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. l'is'a vertical longitudinal section of a sand-trap embodying one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the air nozzle.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the plug for closing the opening which provides access to the nozzle.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a sand-trap embodying a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the nozzle shown in Fig. 5.

The track-sander is of the type used on locomotives and comprises a sand-trap which receives sand from a sand-box or dome on top of the locomotive and is supplied with air under pressure from the. usual compressed air supply for discharging the sand, a pipe for delivering sand to Vthe rail or rails adjacent one or more ofthe wheels on the locomotive. -In the constructionv showny in Figs. `l toV 4, the sander comprises a body or casing I0 which is formed with a verticalextension I2 which is connected by a union-coupling I3 to the pipel I4 which delivers the sandv from the sand-box. The sand from pipe Y`III passes through the inlet I5 in extension I2 and into thenvhorizontally extending trap-conduit I 6 in the casing which extends laterally from said inlet, AtV the opposite end, casing I0 has connected thereto a pipe I'Ilfor deliveringsand to the rails. An air duct I8 is formed in the casing to direct a clean-out blast into and through pipe I-l. at the beginning and the end of each sanding operationunder control ofra suitable valve, as is well understood'inthe art. A pipe I8 is connected tocasing- ID to deliver air under pressure to duct I8-.A`A removable screw-plug I2c is provided in the bottom of the casing ID for access tothe sand in the extension I2.

)A nozzle `2i), having its axis extending longitudinally of the trap-conduit I6, is adapted to direct air, under pressure through said conduit to deliver thesand to and force it throughthe pipe III which delivers the sand to the rails. This nozzlelcomprisesl a tubular discharge member 2l, which' extends into conduitIS and is provided with 'an "integral head'22. The nozzle is supportedin fa boss 23,Which is integral with and extends -inwardly fromthewall at the elbow of the casing I0. vHead 22 has a Screw thread 24 which fits into a screw-'threaded socket 25 formed in boss 23; The inner end of boss 23 is provided with a cylindrical opening, through whichmember. 2|v of the nozzle extends, and in which it is slidable androtatable. The outer end of head 2 ,2 is providedwitna groove 26 so that a screwdriver, or other tool, 'can be appliedto the nozzle torotate it in boss 23jto adjustthe discharge end of the nozzle inwardly or outwardly. By thus adjusting the nozzle, its inner end may be positioned closer or more remotely from the inner margin yofthe line of rest of` the column of sand in the `trap-conduit to varythe rate of displace/ ment of the sand frornsaid column and its discharge through the delivery pipe II. The outer end of the screw-threaded socket 25, in which the head 22 of the nozzle is held, isopen at the out-er side of the. Wall at the elbow of the trapconduit so the nozzlecan be inserted and removed. i

Anair-chamberZl is-formed in the casing II] outwardly. ofthe socket25. Air under pressure is supplied to the upper end of chamber 2'I'from a pipe 28 which is usually connected to a suitable control valve. 'Ihis pipe is connected to the casing by a union coupling 29 and a nipple 30 which is screw threaded into the wall 3| outwardly of the chamber 21. The duct 3|!a in nipple 30 constitutes the inlet for air into the upper end of said chamber. This air supply connection and inlet duct 308L are offset relatively to the socket 25 and nozzle. The chamber 21 forms a passage for conducting air from the offset air inlet to the nozzle. The offset of the inlet is suiiicient to provide for access to the nozzle, withouty removal of the nipple 30 of the air supply connection.

A plug or closure 32 extends through. and. is screw-threaded to, the outer wall 3|` of chamber 21, substantially in axial alignment with nozzle 20 and the socket 25. The inner end of plug 32 is adapted to seat against the vouter face` of the inner wall of chamber 21.

formed in the inner end of plug 32. A small port 34 extends through. the wall of plug 32 around This port restricts the flow of air concentrationof the blast and cause it to be spread sufliciently to produce' asubstantially uniform delivery of the-sand' to the discharge pipe l1.

In operation, the air from pipe 28` under the engineers control, willow into chamber 21' and toport 34 in plug 32.

the bore of the nozzle, so the air will discharge the sand at the desiredI rate for sanding. The rate of delivery of air maybe decreased by ad*- justing the nozzle inwardly or outwardly toV vary the delivery of sand tothe desired rate. Underv different conditions it isv desirable to increase or' decrease the rate ofthe delivery of the sand for eilciencyAv and economyn in the use of'. the sand. For this purpose, it is desirable to readily'effect and expediteadjustment of the nozzle without uncouplingl the air supplyv connection from the sand-trap. In order to provide access to the nozzle it is only necessaryto unscrew the plug" 32- from the casing'so thev engineer can insert a screw-driver, or other'tool', into the groove 26.in

the outer'end of the nozzle and' turn the nozzle toset it for the` desired rate of4low. Upon refr placement of the plug 32 in wall 3|'the sander will again be operative.V In sand-traps of this type, as'heretof-ore constructedgithas been necessary to uncouple the air supply pipe from the trap inv order; to provide access t'o the nozzle. By offsetting the air connection with respect' to the opening'foraccess to the nozzle, as described,

and providing; a removable closure orY plug to provide access t'o the nozzle, changesr in the ad'- justmentof the nozzle can'be easily and quickly effected independently of the air-supply connection. When the plug 32isremoved the portl 34j will be accessible for cleaning, it" that becomes necessary. If itis desiredto vary the restriction.

of flow of. air, a plugl 32 with a different size port 34` can be readilyy substituted without uncoupling the'air supply pipe from the trap.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated'in Figs. 5V and'6, the casingjlwisof' the A chamber 3.3 isf Port 34 restricts'the ilowl of air to chamber 33 in said; plug, socket 25 and lil.

same* construction alreadydescribed., except; that 75 the trap-conduit has connected thereto a downwardly extending outlet |1EL to which the sand discharge pipe |1b is connected and the air delivery pipe I9a is connected to an angular downwardly discharging duct I8a for delivering cleanout blasts into the upper end of the delivery pipe |1'b. The connection between air-supply pipe 28 and the casing, and the air-chamber 21 are the same as those alreadyr described. The screwplug 32a closes the opening. in wall. 3|. but does not extend across chamber 21 so that a full ilow of air will pass to the nozzle. In this modication a core is fitted in the nozzle and is provided with; means for restricting the air-flow from the 4nozzle and with means for imparting a swirling movement to theair'which issues from the nozzle.

'This core comprises: a head 4| which is threaded to screw-thread 42. in the nozzle, and has a cylindrical portion 43 tting in the outer end of the bore 20d of the nozzle, and a stem 40. A port 43 extends from the outer end of the core to a port 44 which opens intothe space'i'n the'bore around the stem 40. A helicaly flight 45 is formed on the stem commencing near the outer end and terminating adjacent the innerend of the stem'- to form a helical channel between the stem and the bore of the nozzle, so: that the air will flow from theA helical channel around stem 4|)v andv be' discharged in a swirling stream from the' inner end of the nozzle. In thismodilcation, the noz'- zle can be adjusted or removed when plug 32a" is unscrewed from the casing.

The'invention exempliiies'a sand-trap in which the'air delivery nozzle fordischarging` sand from the trap-conduit can be adjusted without removal' or disturbing the connection for the air supply' line with the sand trap. It also exemplifies: a plug for providing access to` the nozzle for adjustment. thereof which is provided with means for restricting the air ow. It also exemplifies adevice in the' nozzle' for restricting, the air-ow discharged from the nozzle into the trap-conduit, without the use of` extremely small ports.

The invention isnot to be understood; as restricted' to the detailsset-forth, sncethese may be. modied within the scoper of the appended claims, without departing. from4 thek spirit'y and scope of' the invention. v Having thus.V described. the invention, what I claim. as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.:

1, In a track sander,Y the combination of a casing provided witha vertically 'extendinginlet leg for sand, a trap-conduit extendingv laterally from the inlet leg, and an: outlet leading from one end; of the conduit..V the casing being pro-l vided with. integral innerr andouter walls forming therebetween a'vertically extending elongated chamber at one side of and adjacent to the inlet'l'eg anda vtubular inward extension integral.- withy the inner wall and having a screw# threaded socket therein, a nozzle-pipe extending longitudinallyY ofthe trap-conduit; having its outerv end screw-threaded to` and terminating in the socket; in the tubular extension for longitudinal: adjustment and itslinner endV projecting into `the laterally extending trap-conduit, aplug at one'` end of'saidichamber coaxial with thenozzle-pipe, screw-threaded to the outer wall' of 'said chamber'gfor providingy access to'the nozzle-pipe,

the inner end of the plugvv being seated onv the" outer face of the'A inner wall and having' a port therein Yfor admitting' air to` the socket, and` a connection at; the. other= end*i of: the chamber-4 offset relation to the plug, connected to said outer wall, for supplying air to the chamber.,

2. In a track sander, the combination of a longitudinal trap conduit casing provided with sand, the casing being provided with a screwthreaded socket in a wall thereof, a nozzle-pipe extending longitudinally of the trap-conduit, having its outer end screw-threaded to and terminating in the socket for longitudinal adjustment and its inner end projecting into the trapconduit, and a core screw-threaded to the inside bore of the nozzle-pipe and provided with a helical flight 'tting in the bore of the nozzle-pipe and a port leading from its inner end to the helical channel formed by the flight.

3. In a track-sander, the combination of a casing provided with a vertically extending inlet leg for sand, a trap-conduit extending laterally from the inlet leg and an outlet leading from one end of the conduit, the casing being provided with integral inner and outer walls forming therebetween a vertically extending elongated chamber at one side of and adjacent to the inlet leg, the inner wall having a screwthreaded socket therein, a nozzle-pipe extending longitudinally of and having its inner end projecting into the trap-.conduit and having its outer end screw-threaded to and terminating in the socket inwardly of the outer side of the inner wall for longitudinal adjustment of its inner end in the trap chamber, a plug at one end of said chamber coaxial with and for providing access to the nozzle-pipe, screw-threadedto the outer wall of said chamber, seated against the inner wall and provided with a port for admitting air from the chamber to the socket, and a connection at the upper end of said chamber in oiT-set relation to the plug and connected to said inner wall, for supplying air to the chamber.

GUILFORD S. TURNER. 

